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Any individuals or organisations with an interest in anti-discrimination and equality laws can get involved in the Australian Government's consolidation process. Letters or detailed submission can be sent to the Attorney General's Department.

Stay in touch

If you would like the HRLC to keep you informed of developments about the consolidation process, send an email to Rachel Ball or Anna Brown asking to be added to the Equality Law Reform Project email list.

Notice Board

You’re invited to post to the Equality Law Notice Board below. The Notice Board provides a platform for sharing information, ideas and news about Equality Law developments and the consolidation process.

Tom Clarke commented on 02-May-2011 01:56 PM

Welcome to the ELRP Notice Board! Please email me at tom.clarke@hrlc.org.au if you experience any technical difficulties Thanks

Amanda Davies commented on 02-May-2011 07:05 PM

Wow - Congratulations to all involved. I have just browsed the site and have to say that it's fabulous. What a rich resource. And an insightful blog by Simon Rice is a terrific opener.

Anonymous commented on 04-May-2011 07:08 PM

Just received word that the proposed amendments to the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act, to be put before parliament tomorrow, will strip the Commission of its public inquiry function. A regrettable and regressive step.

Rob Daly commented on 30-May-2011 05:05 PM

Great initiative, congratulations. You continue to set the bar high in promoting and agitating for human rights.

Bob Buckley commented on 19-Jun-2011 01:06 PM

Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia (A4) sent an open letter to the Attorney General about basic problems with protecting people with autism spectrum disorders ... see http://a4.org.au/a4/node/375 Another useful link is http://rightnow.org.au/news-article/walker-vs-state-of-victoria-and-disability-discrimination/

Jason Charles commented on 13-Jul-2011 06:32 PM

I am curious if others are conscerned at the spead of this reform? This is extreamly quick for such a diverse feild, and with so little direct input from individuals. Thanks for the website HRLRC- I will spread the word now I am aware of it. Congrats.

Geoffrey Hallmann commented on 09-Sep-2011 02:06 PM

One of the key areas of deficiency in the Disability Discrimination Act is its function ability to handle invisible disabilities - particularly Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. IN the area of Education the accommodations accorded students:
(a) are not reflective of the condition and its impact; (b) work on the assumption that the individual requires nothing more than a pass, instead of allowing them to achieve to their ability by nullifying the effect of ME/CFS (if possible); (c) dont prevent
proiders demanding repeated (excessively so) medical evidence from students; (d) provide assistance to persons with ME/CFS to formulate their appeal of discriminatory decisions thereby reflecting their functional impairment. In the area of insurances, there
is a major issue with respect to the approach that insurers take with respect to ME/CFS. To this end, the DDA does not: (a) prevent insurers targeting a particular disability and psychologising it in order to avoid their vested innterests in avoiding a claim;
(b) prevent insurers selecting a specific disability (being ME/CFS) and placing restrictions upon new policies (eg 2 year limitation for benefits with respect to Income Protection) to prevent future claims accessing entitlements accorded other illnesses (eg
MS). (c) hold insurers to account for their claims management policies with respect to ME/CFS thereby allowing them to engage in management activities to deny claims illegitimately thereby causing (i) loss of benefits (ii) if possible resort to legal avenues
which is distressing, painful, causes deterioration and prolongs period without benefits or (iii) forces beneficiaries of such policies into desperate settlements of claims thereby denying them access to legitimate long term benefits because of a fear of failure
in court or future rejections causing further upset. With respect to alleged Independent Medical Examiners the DDA does not prevent: (a) IME's failing to undertake genuine investigations (b) favouring insurer positions (c) knowingly and deliberately defaming
claimants and providing reports that reflect the interests of the insurer and are NOT a true independent review of the claimant

Integrity Trust Respect commented on 15-Sep-2011 08:43 PM

Medical legal reform needs to be looked into, If Euthenasia is not Legal why is forced Medication and treatment Legal ? Please Help me to understand sheer Force in the Medical industry especially if Disabled?Where are Human Rights Due to `Duty of Care`
, the Power of Medical staff has escalated and the Individual has dissapeared ! Mentally disabled Have No Legal Rights as I see it and Discrimination and Misconduct is Rife!!Even in the Medical and Police Division due to Law , wheres the Fairness in That!!

Chantelle commented on 03-Feb-2012 10:17 PM

Hi, I just want to say how i'm really disgusted how people judge and label and harrase/bully people who are disabled/have a certain style/like the same gender eg: Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual. It's not fair on anyone. Even thought i'm really young, (13), I think
it's really bad how people get treated, so thats why i'm joining as many groups and causes as i can to help. (Sorry if this is wasting time). xx

Following a period of public consultation, the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee has released its report on the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012, suppporting the passage of the Bill with some amendments.

Newly appointed Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said the Australian Government welcomed the Committee's report including the recommendation to remove clause 19(2)(b) on the basis that it could impede freedom of expression.

Commonwealth Attorney-General Nicola Roxon announced today that her department is currently considering possible alternative definitions of discrimination under the draft Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012 after receiving extensive feedback on the definition of discrimination, particularly clause 19(2)(b), through the media and Senate Inquiry process.